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Topic: How often do you go through a body? Why do you upgrade? (Read 26906 times)

I find this thread very comforting - I see many people sticking to their working "bodies" and not jumping up every six months. This makes me re-bonding to my old 40D easier. Very nice, thanks!From a D30 1999 I jumped to 40D in 2008. No more. Waiting for a FF better in IQ and noise than the current ones. I went from kit lenses in 1999 to 17-55+70-200/4 IS and sold them for 4xCarl Zeiss primes. 580II and minor things.BUT, I updated the computer gear substantially since 1999 - this was the biggest jump: from a 486 Pentium which just hold copies of my jpegs I went through a major metamorphosis and ended up with a 2010 6 core MacPro 24GB with a OWC SSD and 8 TB in Raid 0 for running photo and film productions.... The software I use now to add punch is so much better than 1999 that I recently forgot about the Canon-Wait and focused on reworking my libraries - that's fun. And for more fun I'll get a Fuji X10 as a distraction from waiting for the 5D3... when it comes out. Cheers

For me, this is all just a hobby. People that make money with their camera would be much different I'm sure.Sorry for the long post, but this is a fun topic to comment on.

Pentax K-1000 in 1982. Still have it. Still works great.Rebel XSi - Sept '2008. Gave it to my Daughter after I got the 7D7D - Oct 2010

XSi was my first Digital SLR, and re-entry into my photography hobby beyond the powershots. It took me the first year to get really familiar with all the camera could do. The XSi was great for most things I shot, but I started shooting a lot of indoor sports, and the XSi just didn't cut it. When the 7D came out, I knew that would be a great fit for me.

I upgraded to the 7D for better AF, and better ISO performance, and faster FPS. I really love it. It fits me perfectly.

Since then I have been more interested in glass, and it seems like there is always one more lens I want. Sept 2008 - EF-S 18-55 (gave away w/ XSi)June 2009 - EF-S 55-250 I wanted to try something long, OK in good light with still subjects, otherwise no. Not so good for action.June 2010 - EF 50 f/1.4 - first fast lens, use this for volleyball, and basketball when I can get close enough. Focuses slow and soft wide open.Oct. 2010 - EF 85 f/1.8 - Awesome for Volleyball. This is my main lens for this.Dec. 2010 - EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS - should have gotten this much sooner than I did. Best all-round lens for APCMar. 2011 - EF 24-105 f/4L IS - use this one for kid's soccer, not much else. Thought I would use it much more.Sept 2011 - EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS I (used) - for track & cross country, to replace 55-250(which I am selling). Not really what I needed for outdoor track, but I got a good deal on it. Thinking of selling it at some point to get one of the lenses on my wish list.

I still want EF 70-300L or 100-400L, a wide prime, and a EF 135 f/2L (if I sell the EF 70-200 f/2.8 IS).So I guess I'm a lens junkie.

I'm pretty happy with the 7D, so it will take a big improvement at a similar price point to the current 7D to get me to prioritize a new body over more lenses. I likely won't upgrade bodies unless the 7DII has significantly improved ISO and IQ. And I would wait a while after it ships for the price to come down a bit.

I have always wanted a FF just to experience that and maybe expand my photography experience, so I am tempted to get a used 5DII when the 5DIII comes out and people are selling their 5DII to get the new model.

1982 - Yaschica Electro GSN - Had to start somewhere, so I started here1985 - Canon AE-1 Program - Getting a bit more serious 1993 - Canon 1000FN - Wow - the camera focuses on its own1995 - Mamiya RB67 - Moved to medium format - The negatives are bigger and easier to enlarge2000 - Canon 3000 - On sale with massive discount2002 - Canon Elan 7E - More autofocus point, more FPS, eye control2006 - Minolta SRT101 - There was so much cheap Minolta glass around2006 - Minolta X-700 - As above, this is a more advanced body2009 - Canon 30D - Was getting curious about digital so picked up a second hand body to see what its all about2010 - Mamiya 6 - Had always wanted one. Its a lot lighter than the RB67, but not as versatile2011 - Olympus EPL-1 - Small and has video2011 - Canon 1Ds Mk ii - Wanted to see what FF is all about. Was thinking of waiting for a 5Diii, but this was going cheap.

Except for the AE-1 (which was sold to fund the move to EF), still have them all. Currently, the ones that getting a lot of regular use are the Mamiya 6, 30D, and EPL-1.

« Last Edit: November 30, 2011, 04:35:34 AM by Hillsilly »

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Camera Obscura

King Conquer

2010: Rebel XS - I just started and quickly realised i loved photography and sold it for a better one.2010: Bought a T1i - quickly realied i liked this alot more than just a usual hobby and eventually sold it2011: Bought 60D 2011 Bought 5DMKII - No regrets

sct69

Pre 2005 a couple of cheap point and shoot film cameras2006 a Fuji film point and shoot digital camera2007 My first DSLR being a 400D which I sold 12mths later for a good price to buy a 40D in 2008. I still use this camera and its currently my only camera body. 2011/2012 I'm dreaming of another body to upgrade from the 40D though its still a great camera.

the-ninth

I am still with my first DSLR-body, a 30D from 2005. So far I don't see any of the new bodies being worth the upgrade. If the 5D Mark III will have a significantly better autofocus than the Mark II, I'll go for it.

Fun and interesting thread, hope it is ok to a take little departure from the original subject. Photography for me is a (obsessive) hobby and escape, not making a living from it or any money--maybe someday though.

SLRs1981 - Olympus OM10 w/ 50 1.8 (those of you old enough and in the US should recall those Cheryl Tieggs comercials)1983 - Olympus OM2n w/50 1.4 (love photography, learning a lot--must have a manual camera, sold the OM10)1985 - Olympus OM4 (very cool, built in spot meter--must have camera. Lots and lots of gear throughout the 80s and into the 90s)1990s - mostly absent from photography, married, kids, work--life is hectic. 2000s - life is more hectic, teenage girls , need an escape must get back into photography. Sold all film gear.2010 - 7D (about a year of research and saving money, was actually waiting for the 60D to be announced [which is how I found this site about 2 years ago], disappointed in 60D specs, ordered my 7D. Absolutely love it! Thank you Canon for pushing me to the 7D. Only thing I miss is interchangeable focus screens.2010 - Canon AE-1 Film camera for my daughter's photography class

mikeyL

- Original film shooter with a Canon AT-1 and then eventually with an Olympus OM-2 way back in the 70s and 80s. Eventually drifted away from photography for a long time.

- Got back interested in 2006, and bought a Canon 350D. Great camera. My daughter was playing competitive club volleyball so shot a lot of that plus a 3 week trip to Europe and other trips/travel.

- Eventually wanted something with better AF for sports, and with live view for astrophotography. Bought a Canon 40D in Jan of 2008. Has been a fabulous body. It is still my current camera today and I have shot lots of vball, landscape, travel, and a little bit of astrophotography with it. (astro shooting is VERY challenging )

- In Sept. 2009 I got to play with a friend's Nikon D700, and since I had settled into landscape shooting as my favorite thing to shoot (and my daughter's vball career was over) I decided I wanted to go FF. At that time I couldn't afford to upgrade, so I waited. Since about the beginning/middle of 2011 I have had the money to upgrade, but by then it seemed like the successor to the 5D MkII was 'just around the corner. Now I have waited so long that it is the principle of the thing that I don't want to buy a new body just to have it superseded immediately. I am not likely to be in a position to upgrade again for maybe quite a while.

I suppose I could have been shooting the 5D MkII now for half a year, with who knows how much longer from now until an upgrade path is available for it. But in any case, I am now committed to waiting for the next gen of whatever they decide to make to upgrade the small form factor FF body style. I cannot afford a 1D class body, I no longer need the fps they offer, and I don't want to extra bulk and weight in any case.

when starting photography, my brother purchased the 40D and did photography, however somehow, there was some transition and next thing you know, I am using it, and studying photography and making it a career. I still use the 40D, we got it when it came out.

i havent bought anything else, i have the 40D 17-85 EFS lens, 70-300 EF lens and a 50mm 1.8. now, my plans though would be maybe the 7D, but i am waiting on the 7D II if it comes out in 2012 or some good aps-c camera or maybe a fast APS camera. I hate the noise on my 40D and would love a better camera, but i like FF but they are slow in fps and not many AF points unlike what you usually get in an APS-C or APS-H. so im waiting to see what canon releases to meet my needs and budget.

the 1D X does actually meet these needs but way to epensive. maybe later on down the road when I am more of a professional and not a student. Though I am impatient on replacing my 40D.

i dislike rebels, 60D has a dumb layout, 50D , is a small useless upgrade, and 7D may see a replacement soon so all i can do is play the waiting game -_- wish i had cash though for a 1DX

I suppose I could have been shooting the 5D MkII now for half a year, with who knows how much longer from now until an upgrade path is available for it. But in any case, I am now committed to waiting for the next gen of whatever they decide to make to upgrade the small form factor FF body style. I cannot afford a 1D class body, I no longer need the fps they offer, and I don't want to extra bulk and weight in any case.

ML

Was in same boat as you around Summer. So decided to get a used 5D1 and sell it when the 5d3 comes. Have been shooting with it for a few months and like it very much. If 5d3 is no good then might jump to a good deal on 5d2. (Since it uses the Magic lantern Firmware which gives me +/-7 AEB)